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Benansio JS, Damaya GS, Funk SM, Fa JE, Di Vittorio M, Dendi D, Luiselli L. Attitudes and Perceptions of Local Communities towards Nile Crocodiles ( Crocodylus niloticus) in the Sudd Wetlands, South Sudan. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1819. [PMID: 38929437 PMCID: PMC11200547 DOI: 10.3390/ani14121819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Conflicts between human populations and Nile crocodiles are widespread with crocodiles posing significant threats to fisherfolk and riverine communities across r-Saharan Africa. Hundreds of deadly attacks take place annually, and mortality rates may range from 50% to 100%. Attitudes and perceptions towards crocodiles were studied using structured questionnaires among fisherfolk along the River Nile and the Sudd wetlands in South Sudan. Local communities used crocodiles for their meat and skin/leather trades. The meat is regarded to enhance longevity, sexual potency, and protection against witchcraft. Crocodiles are perceived as a main threat to lives and livelihoods as they restrict people's freedom of movement along water bodies, attack livestock and humans, and devastate fishing equipment. To assess whether responses were influenced by the intensity of crocodile threats, published data on fatal crocodile attacks on humans and livestock were analysed using Generalised Linear Models (GLMs). This analysis indicated a direct link between the number of crocodile attacks and human attitudes. Crocodiles were generally feared and hated, and there was the agreement of the need to destroy breeding habitats. However, some attitudes were complex and nuanced as highlighted by the agreement of local communities on the need to destroy Nile Crocodile breeding habitats on the one hand and the need to establish crocodile sanctuaries as the the preferred strategy to mitigate risks and conflict on the other hand. There is a need for the creation of a crocodile sanctuary in the Sudd wetlands to minimise the risks of illegal hunting and to buffer the increasing pressure on crocodiles due to human population growth and economic upturn after the civil war.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Sebit Benansio
- AERD—Alliance for Environment and Rural Development, El Hikma Medical Centre Street, Gudele West, Block II., Juba P.O. Box 445, South Sudan;
- Department of Wildlife Science, University of Juba, Juba P.O. Box 82, South Sudan;
| | - Gift Simon Damaya
- Department of Wildlife Science, University of Juba, Juba P.O. Box 82, South Sudan;
| | - Stephan M. Funk
- NatureHeritage, St. Lawrence, Jersey, Channel Island JE2 3NG, UK
| | - Julia E. Fa
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M1 5GD, UK;
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), CIFOR Headquarters, Bogor 16115, Indonesia
| | | | - Daniele Dendi
- Institute for Development Ecology Conservation and Cooperation, Via G. Tomasi di Lampedusa 33, 00144 Rome, Italy; (D.D.); (L.L.)
- Department of Applied and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt P.M.B. 5080, Nigeria
- Département de Zoologie et Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Lomé, 101 B.P., Lomé 1515, Togo
| | - Luca Luiselli
- Institute for Development Ecology Conservation and Cooperation, Via G. Tomasi di Lampedusa 33, 00144 Rome, Italy; (D.D.); (L.L.)
- Department of Applied and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt P.M.B. 5080, Nigeria
- Département de Zoologie et Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Lomé, 101 B.P., Lomé 1515, Togo
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Negative human–crocodile interactions in Kariba, Zimbabwe: data to support potential mitigation strategies. ORYX 2022. [DOI: 10.1017/s003060532200014x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Interactions between people and wild animals often result in negative impacts, and different views on the management of such interactions can lead to conflicts. Both intentional and unintentional negative human–wildlife interactions are increasing problems in many places where people share space with wild animals. Here we focus on negative interactions between people and Nile crocodiles Crocodylus niloticus in and around Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe. In the study area, crocodile attacks on people occur frequently, leading to people being injured or killed, which in turn prompts retaliatory actions against crocodiles. However, despite the negative impact of such interactions on both people and crocodiles, little is known about the spatio-temporal patterns of crocodile attacks or environmental conditions under which attacks occur. We collected information about crocodile attacks on people that occurred during 2000–2020, including the date, time, season and location of attacks, the age of victims and the activities they were carrying out when attacks occurred, and water conditions during attacks. We analysed these data to discern patterns and trends of crocodile attacks on people. Attacks occurred in clear as well as turbid water, and nearly half of all reported attacks were at night or in the early morning. The locations with the highest number of recorded attacks were Nyanyana and Charara lakeside, and the fewest attacks occurred at Andora harbour. Most victims were 26–40 years old, and most were attacked in the dry-hot season, while they were fishing. Our findings can be used to design area-specific mitigation strategies to reduce negative human–crocodile interactions.
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